List of personalities from Ostwestfalen-Lippe

This list of personalities from Ostwestfalen-Lippe contains personalities born in Ostwestfalen-Lippe . It is irrelevant whether they worked in the region further on. The list does not claim to be complete.

Politician

• Burkhard Balz , politician (CDU), (* 1969 in Lemgo )
• August Berlin , politician (SPD), (* 1910 in Lemgo )
• Ursula Bolte , politician (SPD), (* 1944 in Brockhagen )
• Georg von Borries senior district administrator of the Prussian district of Herford in Westphalia, (* 1811 at Gut Steinlacke , Kirchlengern )
• Rudolf von Borries , government official and politician, (* 1843 at Gut Steinlacke , Kirchlengern )
• Klaus Brandner , politician (SPD), (* 1949 in Kalletal )
• Michael Brinkmeier , politician (CDU), (* 1968 in Neuenkirchen )
• Johannes Brockmann , politician (Center Party), (* 1888 in Paderborn )
• Elmar Brok , European politician (CDU), (* 1946 in Verl )
• Edelgard Bulmahn , politician (SPD), (* 1951 in Petershagen )
• Wolf-Michael Catenhusen , politician (SPD), (* 1945 in Höxter )
• Christian Dahm , politician (SPD), (* 1963 in Herford )
• Hubert Deittert , politician (CDU), (* 1941 in Neuenkirchen )
• Heinrich Dreyer , politician (CDU), (* 1935 in Mennighüffen )
• Monika Düker , politician (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen), (* 1963 in Höxter )
• Elfriede Eilers , politician (SPD), (* 1921 in Bielefeld )
• Wiebke Esdar , politician (SPD), (born February 11, 1984 in Bielefeld )
• Friedhelm Farthmann , politician (SPD), (* 1930 in Bad Oeynhausen )
• Reinhard Göhner , politician (CDU), (* 1953 in Bünde )
• Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf , politician (Alliance 90 / The Greens), (* 1949 in Spenge )
• Hermann Höpker-Aschoff , politician (DDP / FDP) and lawyer, (* 1883 in Herford )
• Axel Horstmann , economist and politician (SPD), (* 1954 in Enger )
• Friedrich Ernst Husemann , politician (SPD), (* 1873 in Leopoldstal )
• Arndt Klocke , politician (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen), (* 1971 in Bad Oeynhausen )
• Hermann Kohlhase , politician (FDP), (* 1906 in Bielefeld )
• Karl Kreft , politician (DNVP), member of the Weimar National Assembly, (* 1879 in Kirchlengern )
• Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger , politician (FDP), (* 1951 in Minden )
• Ernst Heinrich Lindemann , politician, mayor of Essen, mayor of Düsseldorf and Dortmund, (* 1833 in Kirchlengern )
• Carsten Linnemann , politician (CDU), (* 1977 in Paderborn )
• Friederike Nadig , politician (SPD), (* 1897 in Herford )
• Moritz Leopold Petri , politician, writer, judge and chairman of the city council in Detmold, (* 1802 in Lage )
• Achim Post , politician, (SPD / Social Democratic Party of Europe ), Member of the Bundestag, (* 1959 in Rahden )
• Wilhelm Priesmeier , politician (SPD), (* 1954 in Rahden )
• Karl Theodor Reinhold , politician, folk and political scientist, (* 1849 in Vlotho )
• Mechtild Rothe , European politician (SPD), (* 1947 in Paderborn )
• Ute Schäfer , politician (SPD), (* 1954 in Lage )
• Guntram Schneider , politician (SPD) and trade unionist, (* 1951 in Isselhorst )
• Gerhard Schröder , politician (SPD), (* 1944 in Mossenberg )
• Stefan Schwartze , politician (SPD), (* 1974 in Bad Oeynhausen )
• Gisela Schwerdt , politician (FDP) and President Arminia Bielefeld , (* 1917 in Bielefeld )
• Klaus Schwickert , politician (SPD), (* 1931 in Brackwede , now part of Bielefeld )
• Hans Schwier , politician (SPD), (* 1926 in Lerbeck )
• Carl Severing , politician (SPD), (* 1875 in Herford )
• Barbara Sommer , politician (CDU), (* 1948 in Bielefeld )
• Karl Steinhoff , politician (SED), (* 1892 in Herford )
• Frank-Walter Steinmeier , politician (SPD), (* 1956 in Detmold )
• Gottfried Treviranus , politician (DNVP), (* 1891 in Schieder )
• Antje Vollmer , politician (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen), (* 1943 in Lübbecke )
• Gerhard Wattenberg , politician (SPD), (* 1926 in Valdorf )
• Marianne Weber , politician (DDP), women's rights activist and legal historian, (* 1870 in Oerlinghausen )
• Alice Elisabeth Weidel , politician (AfD), (* 1979 in Gütersloh )
• Rainer Wend , politician (SPD), (* 1954 in Gütersloh )
• Andreas Wiebe , politician (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen), (* 1957 in Bielefeld )
• Elke Wülfing , politician (CDU), (* 1947 in Herford )

Painters, sculptors, architects, designers, photographers

• Heinrich Aldegrever , copperplate engraver, (* 1502 in Paderborn )
• Wolfgang Beltracchi , painter and art forger, (* 1951 in Höxter )
• Master Bertram , painter, (* around 1340 near Minden )
• Peter August Böckstiegel , painter, (* 1889 in Werther (Westphalia) )
• Josefthomas Brinkschröder , painter and sculptor, (* 1909 in Paderborn )
• Ferdinand Wilhelm Brune , architect, (* 1803 in Halle (Westphalia) )
• Elisabeth Coester , glass painter, (* 1900 in Rödinghausen )
• Constanza Droop , children's book illustrator, (* 1965 in Gütersloh )
• Arnold Güldenpfennig , architect, (* 1830 in Warburg )
• Petra Kilian , costume designer, member of the German Film Academy , (* 1965 in Lage )
• Hermann Korb , master builder of the baroque, (* 1656 in Lügde )
• Til Mette , cartoonist and painter, (* 1956 in Bielefeld )
• Eduard Micus , visual artist, (* 1925 in Höxter )
• Berthold Müller-Oerlinghausen , sculptor, (* 1893 in Oerlinghausen )
• Franz Christoph Nagel , builder of the baroque era, (* 1699 in Rietberg )
• Jürgen O. Olbrich , artist, (* 1955 in Bielefeld )
• Jacob Pins , painter and graphic artist, (* 1917 in Höxter )
• Daniel Pöppelmann , master builder, (* 1662 in Herford )
• Peter Pöppelmann , sculptor and draftsman, (* 1866 in Harsewinkel )
• Josef Rikus , sculptor, (* 1923 in Paderborn )
• Johann Christoph Rincklake , painter, (* 1764 in Harsewinkel )
• Johann Georg Rudolphi , painter, (* 1633 in Brakel )
• Ralph Ruthe , cartoonist and author, (* 1972 in Bielefeld )
• Jörg Sasse , photographer, (* 1962 in Bad Salzuflen )
• Jan Philip Scheibe , artist, (* 1972 in Lemgo )
• Johann Conrad Schlaun , architect, (* 1695 in Warburg -Nörde)
• Pientia Selhorst, painter and missionary, (* 1914 in Rietberg)
• Bernhard Sprute , artist, (* 1949 in Detmold )
• Horst Tappe , photographer, (* 1938 in Gütersloh )
• Wilhelm Tophinke , sculptor, (* 1892 in Clarholz )
• Adrian Wewer , church builder, (* 1832 in Harsewinkel )
• Kaspar von Zumbusch , sculptor, (* 1830 in Herzebrock )

Poets, writers and journalists

• Hajo Banzhaf , author and tarot expert, (* 1949 in Gütersloh )
• Bert Brune , writer, (* 1943 in Büren )
• Christian Konrad Wilhelm von Dohm , writer and diplomat, (* 1751 in Lemgo )
• Wiglaf Droste , satirist and writer, (* 1961 in Herford )
• Ferdinand Freiligrath , poet, (* 1810 in Detmold )
• Arie Goral-Sternheim , writer and publicist, (* 1909 in Rheda )
• Christian Dietrich Grabbe , playwright, (* 1801 in Detmold )
• Peter Hahne , publicist and theologian, (* 1952 in Minden )
• Peter Hille , writer, (* 1854 in Nieheim- Erwitzen)
• Ulf-Dieter Klemm , author, translator, diplomat (including ambassador to Morocco), (* 1946 in Höxter )
• Hertha Koenig , poet, (* 1884 at Gut Böckel in Rödinghausen )
• Theodor Kornfeld , poet, (* 1636 in Herford )
• Uwe Kröger (journalist) , television journalist , (* 1943 in Versmold )
• Thomas Krüger , poet and children's book author, (* 1962 in Löhne )
• Hera Lind , writer, (* 1957 in Bielefeld )
• Thomas RP Mielke , science fiction author, (* 1940 in Detmold )
• Anja Niedringhaus , photo journalist, (* 1965 in Höxter )
• Judith Rakers , journalist, (* 1976 in Paderborn )
• Elisabet van Randenborgh , writer, (* 1893 in Bielefeld )
• Karla Raveh , (nee Frenkel); Author, survivor of the Holocaust, (* May 1927 in Lemgo )
• Bernhard Schlink , lawyer and writer, (* 1944 in Bielefeld -Großdornberg)
• Stephan Selhorst, art historian and journalist (* 1913 in Rietberg i. Westf.)
• Dieter Thoma , journalist and moderator, (* 1927 in Paderborn )
• Georgia Tornow , journalist, wife of the TV journalist and presenter Ulrich Meyer , (* 1948 in Vlotho )
• Hans-Ulrich Treichel , writer and Germanist, (* 1952 in Versmold )
• Annette Weber , author of children's and youth literature, (* 1956 in Lemgo )
• Friedrich Wilhelm Weber , poet, (* 1813 in Bad Driburg - Alhausen )
• Georg Weerth , poet, (* 1822 in Detmold )
• Jens Westerbeck , writer, television author and gag writer, (* 1977 in Bünde )
• Silke Zertz , screenwriter, German television award winner , (* 1966 in Lemgo )

Composers, singers and musicians

• Ralf Arnie , Schlager composer, (* 1924 in Löhne )
• Bernd Begemann , musician and singer, (* 1962 in Bad Salzuflen )
• Casper , musician, rapper, (* 1982 in Extertal )
• Sophie Crüwell , opera singer, (* 1826 in Bielefeld )
• Curse , musician, rapper, (* 1978 in Minden )
• Jochen Distelmeyer , musician, (* 1967 in Bielefeld )
• Helmut Finke , musician, instrument maker and entrepreneur (* 1923 in Herford )
• Gunter Gabriel , pop singer, lyricist and composer, (* 1942 in Bünde ; † 2017 in Hanover)
• Marian Gold , (bourgeois Hartwig Schierbaum) musician, (* 1954 in Herford )
• Christhard Gössling , trombonist, (* 1957 in Höxter )
• Hans Werner Henze , composer, (* 1926 in Gütersloh )
• Hans Ulrich Humpert , composer, (* 1940 in Paderborn )
• Bernadette La Hengst , musician, (* 1967 in Bad Salzuflen )
• Heinz Rudolf Kunze , musician, (* 1956 in Espelkamp )
• Sebastian Krämer , chansonnier, (* 1975 in Bad Oeynhausen )
• Bernhard Lloyd , (civil: Bernd Gössling), musician, (* 1960 in Enger )
• Thomas Meyer-Fiebig , composer and organist, (* 1949 in Bielefeld )
• Peter Orloff , pop singer and producer, (* 1947 in Lemgo )
• Roland Ploeger , composer, organist and music professor, (* 1928 in Oerlinghausen )
• Ingo Pohlmann , pop musician, (* 1972 in Rheda-Wiedenbrück )
• Ernst August Quelle , composer, (* 1931 in Herford )
• Uwe Banton , citizen Uwe "Banton" Schäfer, reggae singer, (* 1966 in Lage )
• Frank Spilker , musician, (* 1966 in Herford )
• Tujamo , (bourgeois Matthias Richter), DJ and producer, (* 1988 in Detmold )
• Christopher Uhe , musician and producer, (* 1968 in Detmold )
• Hannes Wader , singer-songwriter, (* 1942 in Bielefeld (Hoberge-Uerentrup))
• Eberhard Werdin , composer, (* 1911 in Spenge )
• Lars Woldt , bassist, (* 1972 in Herford )
• Anna-Maria Zimmermann , pop singer , (* 1988 in Gütersloh )

Actors, comedians and presenters

• Abdelkarim , (bourgeois Abdelkarim Zemhoute) cabaret artist and television presenter, (* 1981 in Bielefeld )
• Diana Amft , actress, (* 1975 in Gütersloh )
• Pinar Atalay , radio and television presenter, spokeswoman for the ARD's Tagesschau, (* 1978 in Lemgo )
• Iris Berben , actress, (* 1950 in Detmold )
• Martin Bretschneider , actor, (* 1974 in Bielefeld )
• Lennert Brinkhoff , moderator, (* 1984 in Bielefeld )
• Stephan Buchheim , journalist, moderator and voice actor, (* 1963 in Lemgo )
• Ehrlich Brothers , consisting of the brothers Andreas Ehrlich (* 1978 in Herford, as Andreas Reinelt) and Christian Ehrlich (* 1982 in Herford as Christian Reinelt), are a German magician duo and official RID world record holders
• Mareike Fell , actress, (* 1975 in Detmold )
• Albert Florath , actor, (* 1888 in Bielefeld )
• Hans-Hermann Gockel , TV presenter, (* 1954 in Bielefeld )
• Simon Gosejohann , comedian, (* 1976 in Gütersloh )
• Thilo Gosejohann , director, (* 1971 in Gütersloh )
• Konstantin Graudus , actor, (* 1965 in Gütersloh )
• Marco Hagemann , sports commentator, (* 1976 in Gütersloh )
• Eva Haßmann , actress, wife of Otto Waalkes, (* 1972 in Herford )
• Sebastian Hellmann , TV presenter and commentator, (* 1967 in Bielefeld )
• Ralph Herforth , actor, (* 1960 in Herford )
• Rüdiger Hoffmann , comedian, (* 1964 in Paderborn )
• Wolf Danny Homann , actor, (* 1990 in Bielefeld )
• Isabell Horn , actress, musical artist and presenter, (* 1983 in Bielefeld )
• Sebastian Jäger , actor, singer-songwriter and model, (* 1981 in Herford )
• Rolf Kanies , film and theater actor, (* 1957 in Bielefeld )
• Matthias "Matze" Knop , comedian, (* 1974 in Lippstadt )
• Birgit Lechtermann , TV presenter, (* 1960 in Gütersloh )
• Sandra S. Leonhard , actress, (* 1976 in Gütersloh )
• Jürgen von der Lippe , TV presenter and comedian, (* 1948 in Bad Salzuflen )
• Maria Litto , actress and dancer, (* 1919 in Höxter -Ovenhausen)
• Andreas Lukoschik , TV presenter and actor, (* 1953 in Bad Salzuflen )
• Ingolf Lück , comedian, (* 1958 in Bielefeld )
• Thorsten Nindel , actor, (* 1964 in Höxter )
• Matthias Opdenhövel , moderator, (* 1970 in Detmold )
• Ingo Oschmann , comedian, (* 1969 in Bielefeld )
• Florian Panzner , actor, (* 1976 in Bielefeld )
• Hans Quest , actor and director, (* 1919 in Herford )
• Patricia Schäfer (actress) , actress, (* 1967 in Bielefeld )
• Dagmar Schönleber , Comedian, (* 1973 in Lemgo )
• Jana Schulz , theater and film actress, (* 1977 in Bielefeld )
• Siegfried Schürenberg , actor, (* 1900 in Detmold )
• Karl Senne , TV presenter and entertainer, (* 1934 in Petershagen )
• Ludger Stratmann , comedian, (* 1948 in Verl )
• Aylin Tezel , actress and dancer, (* 1983 in Bünde )
• Udo Vioff , actor, (* 1932 in Detmold )
• Gerd Wameling , theater and film actor and voice actor, (* 1948 in Paderborn )
• Kathy Weber , TV presenter, (* 1980 in Steinheim )
• Oliver Welke , comedian and television presenter, (* 1966 in Bielefeld )
• Ulrich Wildgruber , actor, (* 1937 in Bielefeld )
• Wotan Wilke Möhring , actor and musician, (* 1967 in Detmold )
• Michael Wittenborn , theater, film and television actor (* 1953 in Bielefeld )
• Tine Wittler , television presenter, writer, film producer, actress, singer, artist, (* 1973 in Rahden )
• Gustav Peter Wöhler , actor, singer and radio play speaker, (* 1956 in Bielefeld )
• Susanne Wolff , theater and film actress, (* 1972 in Bielefeld )
• Monika Zinnenberg , actress and director, (* 1943 in Lahde )

Scientists, researchers, engineers, inventors

• Walter Baade , astronomer and astrophysicist, (* 1893 in Schröttinghausen (Preußisch Oldendorf) )
• Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel , astronomer, mathematician and geodesist, (* 1784 in Minden )
• Carl Bobe , inventor of the postal code system, (* 1873 in Oerlinghausen )
• Thomas Carell , chemist, (* 1966 in Bad Salzuflen )
• Hans-Heinz Emons , chemist and politician (SED), (* 1930 in Herford )
• Werner Franke , cell and molecular biology and doping expert, (* 1940 in Paderborn )
• Ute Frevert , historian, (* 1954 in Schötmar )
• Manfred Fuhrmann , classical philologist, (* 1925 in Hiddesen )
• Erich Gutenberg , economist, (* 1897 in Herford )
• Wilhelm Haarmann , chemist (first synthesis of vanillin), (* 1847 in Holzminden )
• Helmut Hesse , economist, (* 1934 in Bielefeld )
• Klaus Hildebrand , historian, (* 1941 in Bielefeld )
• Luise Holzapfel , chemist, (* 1900 in Höxter )
• Hermann von Höxter , Professor of Medicine, (* around 1370 probably in Westheim )
• Engelbert Kaempfer , explorer and founder of Japanology, (* 1651 in Lemgo )
• Lothar Lammers , inventor (developed the lottery game 6 out of 49 in 1955), (* 1926 in Höxter )
• Reinhard Maack , tropical researcher, (* 1892 in Herford )
• Joseph Massolle , engineer for film sound technology, (* 1889 in Bielefeld )
• Gerhard Friedrich Müller , historian and Siberia researcher, (* 1705 in Herford )
• Reiner Reineccius , historian, (* 1541 in Steinheim )
• Heinrich Adolf Rinne , otologist , published the Rinne experiment named after him in 1855 (* 1819 in Vlotho )
• Max Rubensohn , classical philologist and literary historian, (* 1864 in Höxter )
• Bernhard Schäffer , mechanic, inventor and manufacturer, (* 1823 in Löhne -Gohfeld)
• Johann Schröder , doctor, (* 1600 in Salzuflen ), author of the "Artzney-Schatz" , the most important pharmacopoeia of the 17th century in German-speaking countries.
• Jörg Schröder , civil engineer and university professor, (* 1964 in Höxter )
• Angelika Schwabe-Kratochwil , botanist, (* 1950 in Bielefeld )
• Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner , pharmacist and discoverer of morphine, (* 1783 in Neuhaus Castle )
• Hans-Werner Sinn , economist, (born March 7, 1948 in Brake near Bielefeld )
• Peter Steinbach , historian and political scientist, (* 1948 in Lage )
• Rudolf Stichweh , sociologist, (* 1951 in Lemgo )
• Ignaz Urban , botanist, (* 1848 in Warburg )
• Hermann Vöchting , botanist, (* 1847 in Blomberg )
• Hans Wagener , Germanist, (* 1940 in Lage )
• Franz Walter , political scientist and professor of political science, (* 1956 in Steinheim )
• Jörg Wrachtrup , physicist, (* 1961 in Herford )
• Hanna-Maria Zippelius , ethnologist, (* 1922 in Detmold )
• Leopold Zunz , scientist, founder of Jewish studies, (* 1794 in Detmold )

Entrepreneur

• Carl Bertelsmann , printer and publisher, (* 1791 in Gütersloh )
• Friedrich Wilhelm Christians , banker, (* 1922 in Paderborn , † 2004)
• August Claas , entrepreneur, (* 1887 in Clarholz , † 1982)
• Helmut Claas , entrepreneur, (* 1926 in Harsewinkel )
• Conrad Wilhelm Delius , entrepreneur, (* 1807, † 1897 in Versmold )
• Michael Diekmann , entrepreneur, (* 1954 in Bielefeld )
• Johann Füchting , Lübeck merchant and patron, (* 1571 in Rietberg )
• Florenz-Ludwig Heidsieck , champagne producer, (* 1749 in Borgholzhausen )
• Sophie Henschel , manufacturer, (* 1841 in Porta Westfalica )
• Johannes Klasing , publisher, (* 1846 in Bielefeld )
• Adolf Maass , entrepreneur and businessman, partner in Kuehne + Nagel , (* 1875 in Borgholzhausen )
• Carl Miele senior, designer and industrialist, (* 1869 in Herzebrock )
• Markus Miele , entrepreneur (* 1968 in Gütersloh )
• Rudolf Miele , entrepreneur (* 1929 in Gütersloh )
• Heinrich Mohn , publisher, (* 1885 in Gütersloh )
• Liz Mohn , entrepreneur, (* 1941 in Wiedenbrück )
• Reinhard Mohn , entrepreneur, (* 1921 in Gütersloh )
• Kurt Nagel jun., Entrepreneur, Nagel-Group , (* 1962)
• Heinz Nixdorf , entrepreneur, (* 1925 in Paderborn )
• Rudolf-August Oetker , entrepreneur, (* 1916 in Bielefeld )
• Richard Oetker , entrepreneur, (* 1951 in Bielefeld )
• Friedrich Adolf Richter , inventor of the Anker stone building sets, (* 1846 in Herford )
• Heinz Schürmann , entrepreneur, ( Schüco ), ( Granini ), (* 1922 in Porta Westfalica (city) )
• Julius Tielbürger , entrepreneur and inventor, (* 1919 in Stemwede - Oppenwehe )
• Clemens Tönnies , entrepreneur and sports official, (* 1956 in Rheda )
• August Velhagen , publisher , (* 1809 in Quernheim )
• Wilhelm Vortmeyer , entrepreneur, manufacturer, local politician and mayor, (* 1866 in Harlinghausen (Preußisch Oldendorf) )
• Sarah Wiener , entrepreneur, TV cook and author, (* 1962 in Halle / Westphalia )
• Siegbert Wortmann , entrepreneur, ( Wortmann AG ), (* 1955 in Hüllhorst )
• Reinhard Zinkann junior , entrepreneur ( Miele ), (* 1959 in Gütersloh )

Theologians

• Wilhelm Anton von der Asseburg , Bishop of Paderborn, (* 1707 at Hinnenburg Castle near Brakel )
• Franz-Josef Bode , Bishop of Osnabrück, (* 1951 in Paderborn )
• Friedrich von Bodelschwingh the Younger , theologian and director of Bethel, (* 1877 in Bielefeld )
• Johann Botsack , Protestant theologian, (* 1600 in Herford )
• Peter Heinrich Brincker , missionary in German South West Africa, (* 1836 in Gütersloh- Isselhorst )
• Johannes Friedrich , Bishop of the VELKD, (* 1948 in Bielefeld -Gadderbaum)
• Samson Hochfeld , rabbi and scholar (important representative of liberal Reform Judaism), (* 1871 in Höxter )
• Josef Homeyer , Bishop of Hildesheim, (* 1929 in Harsewinkel )
• Wilhelm Leber , church leader, (* 1947 in Herford )
• Hugo Makibi Enomiya-Lassalle , Jesuit and Zen master, (* 1898 at Gut Externbrock near Nieheim )
• Petrus Legge , Bishop of Meissen, (* 1882 in Brakel )
• Pauline von Mallinckrodt , founder of the order, (* 1817 in Minden )
• Ludwig Müller , Reich Bishop of the DEK, (* 1883 in Gütersloh )
• Gobelin person , historian and church reformer, (* 1358 in Paderborn )
• Hermann Schalück , Minister General of the Franciscans, (* 1939 in St. Vit )
• Joseph Schäfers , Catholic theologian, (* 1878 in Salzkotten )
• Hans Schöttler , Protestant clergyman, (* 1861 in Gütersloh )
• Vitus Georg Tönnemann , Jesuit in the service of the Roman-German Emperors Leopold I and Karl VI, (* 1659 in Höxter in the Corvey Abbey )
• Johann Heinrich Volkening , Lutheran pastor, head of the Minden-Ravensberg revival movement , (* 1796 in Hille , † 1877 in Holzhausen )
• Karl-Heinz Wiesemann , Auxiliary Bishop in Paderborn, (* 1960 in Herford )

athlete

• Martin Amedick , soccer player, (* 1982 in Delbrück )
• Sven Authorsen , figure skater, (* 1967 in Gütersloh )
• Ludger Beerbaum , show jumper, (* 1963 in Detmold )
• Andre Begemann , tennis player, (* 1984 in Lemgo )
• Frank von Behren , handball player and handball official, (* 1976 in Hille )
• Dieter Brei , soccer player and coach, (* 1950 in Verl )
• Till Brinkmann , soccer goalkeeper , (* 1995 in Paderborn )
• Diego Demme , soccer player, (* 1991 in Herford )
• Hendrik Dreekmann , tennis player, (* 1975 in Bielefeld )
• Martin Driller , footballer, (* 1970 in Paderborn )
• Ralf Ehrenbrink , eventing rider, (* 1960 in Bielefeld)
• Yves Eigenrauch , footballer, (* 1971 in Minden )
• Sabine Ellerbrock , wheelchair tennis player, (* 1975 in Bielefeld )
• Kirstin Freye , tennis player, (* 1975 in Herford )
• Arne Friedrich , footballer, (* 1979 in Bad Oeynhausen )
• Frank Geideck , soccer player and coach, (* 1967 in Bielefeld )
• Markus Gellhaus , soccer player and coach, (* 1970 in Detmold )
• Lena Goeßling , soccer player, German national player, (* 1986 in Bielefeld )
• Andreas Golombek , soccer player and coach, (* 1968 in Amshausen )
• Bernd Haake , ice hockey coach, (* 1948 in Bielefeld )
• Olaf Hampel , bobsleigh driver, two-time Olympic champion, (* 1965 in Bielefeld )
• Ingrid Hartmann , canoeist, (* 1930 in Bad Salzuflen )
• Thomas von Heesen , soccer player and coach, (* 1961 in Höxter -Albaxen)
• Thomas Helmer , footballer, (* 1965 in Herford )
• Michael Henke , soccer player and coach, (* 1957 in Büren )
• Rolf Hermann , national handball player, (* 1981 in Lübbecke )
• Hans Hüneke , athlete and Olympic participant, (* 1934 in Schwalenberg )
• Otto Höxtermann , soccer player and coach, (* 1912 in Paderborn )
• Uwe Hünemeier , footballer, (* 1986 in Rietberg )
• Peter Ingenhaag , parachutist, (* 1983 in Lemgo )
• Bernd Kirchner , football player, (* 1944 in Bielefeld )
• Peter Klein , athlete, (* 1959 in Schötmar )
• Hans-Jörg Klindt , handball trainer , teacher and former handball player, (* 1961 in Bielefeld )
• Lukas Kruse , football goalkeeper, (* 1983 in Paderborn )
• Günter Kutowski , soccer player, (* 1965 in Paderborn )
• Reinhard Libuda , footballer, (* 1943 in Dörentrup- Wendlinghausen)
• Ewald Lienen , soccer player and coach, (* 1953 in Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock -Liemke)
• Jörg Ludewig , racing cyclist, (* 1975 in Halle (Westphalia) )
• Anja Monke , golfer, (* 1977 in Herford )
• Sven Montgomery , racing cyclist, (* 1976 in Detmold )
• Hermann Paul Müller , racing driver, (* 1909 in Bielefeld )
• David Odonkor , footballer, (* 1984 in Bünde )
• Louis Paulsen , chess player, (* 1833 near Blomberg )
• Reiner Plaßhenrich , footballer, (* 1976 Paderborn )
• Felix Platte , soccer player, (* 1996 in Höxter )
• Marie Pollmann , soccer player, (* 1989 in Salzkotten )
• Kacper Przybyłko , football player, (* 1993 in Bielefeld )
• Mateusz Przybylko , athlete (high jump), (* 1992 in Bielefeld )
• Helmut Rethemeier , eventing riding , (* 1939 in Vlotho )
• Antonio Di Salvo , footballer, (* 1979 in Paderborn )
• Hubertus Schmidt , dressage rider, Olympic champion, world champion, European champion, (* 1959 in Haaren (Bad Wünnenberg) )
• Helmut Schröder , soccer player, (* 1958 in Sudhagen )
• Linda Stahl , javelin thrower, (* 1985 in Steinheim )
• Keanu Staude , soccer player, (* 1997 in Bielefeld )
• Pascal Stenzel , footballer, (* 1996 in Bünde )
• Christian Strohdiek , soccer player, (* 1988 in Paderborn )
• Thorsten Stuckmann , footballer, (* 1981 in Gütersloh )
• Axel Sundermann , footballer, (* 1968 in Lemgo )
• Christina Sussiek , athlete, (* 1960 in Werther (Westphalia) )
• Monica Theodorescu , dressage rider, (* 1963 in Halle (Westphalia) )
• Maik Walpurgis , football coach, (* 1973 in Herford )
• Dieter Waltke , handball player, (* 1954 in Hille )
• Alexander Weber , saber fencer, (* 1978 in Bielefeld )
• Stefan Wessels , soccer player, goalkeeper and soccer goalkeeper coach, (* 1979 in Rahden )
• Claus-Dieter Wollitz , footballer, (* 1965 in Brakel )
• Michael Wollitz , footballer, (* 1961 in Brakel )
• Volker Zerbe , handball player, (* 1968 in Lemgo )

Other

• Adolph Bermpohl , co-founder of the DGzRS, (* 1833 in Gütersloh )
• Hermann Goehausen , witch theorist, (* 1593 in Brakel )
• Martin Goldstein , doctor, psychotherapist, author and Protestant religion teacher, known as "Dr. Summer ", (* 1927 Bielefeld)
• Hermine Huntgeburth , director, (* 1957 in Paderborn )
• Johannes Kuhlo , "Trumpet General ", (* 1856 in Löhne -Gohfeld)
• Christian Lohse , two-star chef and TV chef, (* 1967 in Bad Oeynhausen )
• Mathilde the saint , wife of King Henry I, (* around 895 in Enger )
• Lars Montag , film and theater director, (* 1971 in Bünde )
• Friedrich Murnau , director, (* 1888 in Bielefeld )
• Rüdiger Nehberg , survival expert and human rights activist, (* 1935 in Bielefeld )
• Johanna Pelizaeus , pedagogue, (* 1824 in Rietberg )
• Dietmar Post , film director and label maker, (* 1962 in Espelkamp )
• Christina Rau , political scientist and widow of the former Federal President Johannes Rau, (* 1956 in Bielefeld )
• Thilo Graf Rothkirch , film producer, screenwriter and director, (* 1948 in Brakel )
• Anke Schäferkordt , Media Manager, (* 1962 in Lemgo )
• Jürgen Stroop , SS major general and exterminator of the Warsaw Ghetto, (* 1895 in Detmold )
• Hüseyin Tabak , film director, producer and screenwriter, (* 1981 in Lemgo )
• Karl Friedrich Titho , SS lieutenant colonel and war criminal, (* 1911 in Feldrom )
• Heinrich Trettner , General Inspector of the Bundeswehr, (* 1907 in Minden )
• Otto Weddigen , naval officer and submarine commander, (* 1882 in Herford )
• Heinz Otto Wehmann , cook, cookbook author and TV chef, (* 1955 in Versmold )
• Frank Werneke , trade unionist, (* 1967 in Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock )
• Horst Wessel , author of the Horst Wessel song, (* 1907 in Bielefeld )